Self-righting roller-bearing.



NoA 849,094. PATBNTED APRLZ, 1907.

0. E. ZAHN.

SELF RIGHTING ROLLER BEARING. APPLIGATIUN FILED SEPT. 5.1906.

end thrust.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

oSwALD E, zar-mor Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.. sr:Lie-Ricqi-irlNe.nol.Llera-BEARING.A

specification of Letters Patent.

atented April 2, 1907.

Appuaeon filed separater 5, 1906. serial No. 335,01?.

To all whom it matt/concern:

Be it known that I, OswALD F. ZAHN, a citizen of t-he United States, residing at Los -A;cneles, lin the county of Los Angeles, State alifornia, have invented a newand useful Self-Righting followingis a specification.

The main object of this invention is to provide a' roller-bearing wherein theroller's will continually tend to right themselves or main- '.tain their parallelism with the axis of the bearing. In roller-bearings there is usuallya tendency of the roller to vswerve or ldeflect from straight position, thereby crampin or binding of the rollers in the-bearing. It as been'attempted to 'remedy'this 'by the use of. tracks, constraining the -rollers to the proper path. Such bearings work well.

. on light pressures; but when the pressre is heavy the frictionv between the'bearingsand rollersin case of deflection isso'great that the tendency ofthe rollers to'swerve overcomes the guiding effect of the tracks, the rollers then cramping in the-bearing. 'My invention avoids the rollers and both bearing mem ers Wit means which on deflection of the rollers `engage in such manner that the friction that is rought into play rollers, and the righting effect is in proportion 'to the friction and to the pressure, and is there- 'ing-axle bearing embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section thereof. Figs. 3

other forms of the invention. somewhat diagrammatic view of used in the form shown in Fig. 4, showing different forms of the spacing-rollers. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, wherein the bearing is shown in a formespeciall applicable to automobile drivingaxles,t e wheeland n4 are partial longitudinal sections of Fig. 5 is a the rollers Roller-Bearing, of which the' causing this difficulty by providin- .effect itself tends to right thethe rollers that support the bearing mem ers againstV side, top,-

toward -t hub 1 is fastened on the axle 2, vto which is secured an inner bearing member 3. An outer bearing member 4 is secured to a tubular supporting .member 5, whichis supported by the vehicle running-gear. 'The outer and inner bearing 'members or sleeves 4 5 have end flanges 6 to provide annular abutments 7,8 for engaging shoulders 9 at the outer ends of grooves 1 0 in the bearing-rollers 11. Said outer bearing member is slit, -as atvllt.

Spacing-rollers 12A are provi ed, alternating with the bearing-rollers and ofr smaller diameter than the` rollersalso havinggrooves 13, into which eX- tend the flanges vor abutment's 78, aforesaid, to

limit the longitudinal movement of the spacing rollers. The outer faces of said vflanges or abutments-that is to say, those facesv thereof Which are farthest from the midlength of the inwardly-facing shoulders or walls. of the grooves 10 in the bearing-rollers, and the in- Iner. faces of said flanges or abutments are free from engagement with the rollers. This between the shoulders of the grooves `and the faces of the abut-ments less 0n the outer sides of the Hanges or abutments than it' is on the inner sides thereof, so that if engagement occulrs -it-willnecessarily be on theoutersides vso el righ tythe rollers in thebearing, as hereinbefore set forth." To explain this action, let it be as.-

-sumed that the inner bearing' member is turning inthe direction of the arrow, the rollers thereof revolving in the saine direction, at a slower rate, and the outer member being fixed. lIfa roller deliects or skewsto a position4 such as indicated by dotted lines, with vance ofthe othler, it will in its further movement swerve or drift away from that end, or

ltoward the left, as indicated by the dotted arrow, thereby bringing the shoulder at the advanced end against the right-hand annular abutment 7 on the outer bearing member,

,the position of which is indicated in dott-ed lines.- The contactor engagement thus d eveloped at the advanced endof the roller W1ll retard' the advanced end of the roller until it It will also is restored tocorect position.

member Jn be" noted that the inner bearing rollmg over the skewed roller will tendto drift to the same end as the roller, but at a greater speech-"so that its annular abutment produced bymaking the clearance and will thereby tend to automatically e left h 'and Orretarded end of the bearing-rollers, said spacingbearing-roller-engage with theV .95 one end-say the right-hand end-'-1n adioo rolleriwill bear toward and against the shoulder of the roller and by the consequent forwarddra(T thereon will also tend to right the roller in the bearing, and there are no longitudmal engagements tending to derectify. This reeti ng effect would therefore be produced by annular `abutments on either the outeror the inner member, and myA invention is 'not limited to ltheir use on both members; but such use is o f advantage in balancing and cumulating the rectifying effect 4and as a further function ofgreater importancein taking end thrust, thereby dispensing with the use of the usual end-.thrust devices, such as ballbearing rings. Longitudinal pressure of the outer bearing member relatively to the inner bearing member will bring the annular abutment ofthe outer bearing member againstf the shoulders of the rollers, and the shoulders at the other ends of the rollers will be broughtagainst the annular abutment at that endofthe -inner member, thus transmitting the pressure from one bearing member to the other through the rollers. The same rollers, therefore, take the radial, top, bottom, or side pressure land It will be noted that where" theend pressure. these shoulders and abutments touch each other there will be friction, exceptjust at the line or point where Athe diameter Visequal to that of the rolling surfaces-that is to say, where the shoulder-face and theabutmentlface meet the rolling face of the rollers. One or both of these faces are `therefore desirably cut away or beveled, or said faces are rela'-4 tively inclined to confine the contact to parts having the same diameter, and therefore the same peripheral speed as the rolling faces, the

1 roller-shoulder contacting only at its outer edge or corner. v

In Figs. 1 and 2 the spacing-rollers are retained in position by the same flanges onthe bearing members which engage the bearing' rollers. Special spacing' means may,- however, be provided for the spacing-rollers consisting, for example, of spacing-rings, as shown in Fig.- 3. The abutments are not necessarily integral with the bearing mem- "bers,but may be'retained thereon, as shown in Fig., 3. This figure also shows provision for adjustment of the abutments to' take up Wear, said abutments being on ilanges et the Ainner ends of sleeves 15, fastened Within an .outer member 16, by set-screws 17, which enable longitudinal adjustment, and a screw 18 for locking the parts. Similarly, the abutments 19 are on sleeves 20, adjustably securedonthe inner member by screws 21.

'By adjusting thesesleeves the clearance and wear between the abutments and-the shoulders 'of the bearing-rollers 22 may be taken up. The rspacin -rollers 23 are here shown as,

Y having a pair of an es 24 at each end extendy ing in grooves 25 o the bearing-rollers, the

retaining rings 26 running` between the flanges of each pair.

ment-rings 40 41 at the ends of the outer and inner `bearing `members. Rings 40 of the outerme'mber are adjustable by screw 65 ``washer 44. The bearing-rollers 34 and members 28. 36 have 'grooves 45 adjacent to shoulders and abutments to collect any "the bearing parts.

all of which may be employed in one bearing nWithcutinterference, one of which .is a short .spacing-roller. 47 between shoulders 32 and having enlarged end portions48, between vWhichmruns the retaining-ring 49. Short provided near the ends of the bearing, eX- tending in the `grooves 39 of the bearingforms of spacing members are shown'in Fig. 5-na'mely, balls 52 in' the central groove 33,

54 beyond :the ends of the bearing-rollers to receive retaining-rings y55, a spacing-roller of: the bearing-ro lers and with 4a middle enlargement 58 to run in themiddle groove 33 or Without such middle -flange,as shown at be used, as in roller 61, the reduced end parts moving between the bearing-rollers and having necks 6,2'to receive the retaining-rings 51. The enlargements on the bearin rollers or spacingfrollers .may be remova le, being roller, as indicated at 66 in Fig. 5. l l Itwill be noted that in the -formsshown each side of the mid-length of the 4roller and oller to produce a plurality of rectifying efects.

In Fig. 5 I show modifications of rollers which may be lemployed in a single bearing.

What I claim is- 1. A roller-bearing com rising inner and outer bearing members, t e inner bearing member p :ovided with a plurality of annular langes,..and bearing-rollers, havlng a groove ends ofsaid grooves engaging withy abut' ,worn material and prevent it from4 grinding This bearing is shown l,vi/1th several different forms of spacing-rollers,

longitudinally-concave spacing-rollers 50 are',

a long bearing-roller 53 with double flanges i in Figs. 3 .and 4 each' roller engages with the 4 Abearing'member at a plurality of points atV at different distances from themiddle of the and washer 42 to take up wear, and ring 41 is similarly adjustable by screw-.ring 43' and rollers andretained byrings 51..A Other ICO 56 with end flan es 5'7- to run in'grooves 39 i IOC 59, or only the middle enlargement'l) may IIO' fastened by screws 64, (see Figs. 4 and 5,) or may be lfastened by a lscrewthre ad on the near each end, of less diameter than the bearv ing-surface of said rollers, the inwardlyfacing walls ofsaid ooves engaging with the outer faces of sai flanges, and the inner faces of said flan es being free from engagelment with the rol ers.

2. A roller-bearing com rising inner and `buter bearing members, t e inner bearing-` member provided with a plurality of annular flanges, and bearing-rollers, having a groove near each end, of less diameter than the rolling diameter, the inwardly-facing walls of said grooves engagin with `the outer faces of said flanges, the lnner, faces of said flanges being free from engagement with the rollers, and spacing means for the rollers.

.` 3. A roller-'bearing com risin'ginner and outer bearing members, t e inner bearing .member provided with a plurality of annular abutment members, and bearing-rollers, having a groove near each end, of less diameter than the rolling diameter, 4he inwardly-facing walls of 'said grooves engaging with the outer faces of said annular abutment members, and the inner faces of said annular abut-- ment members being free from engagement v with the rollers, whereby'any skewlng-of the ber to'allow such recti rollers in the bearing causescontact between the rollers and a bearing member tending t o rectify the rollers andthe rollers being free to move longitudinall inthe bearing mem'- frying contacts. 4. A roller-bearing comprising inner and outer bearing members, the inner bearing vmember provided With a plurality o annular flanges, and bearing-rollers,. grooved to engage said -iianges on the'faces of the grooves farthest from thev middle of the rollers, the` other faces of the grooves being free fromv engagement Withthe flanges', and the grooves being of less diameter than'the rolling diameter of the rollers. 5. A roller-bearing comprising inner and outer bearingmembers, the innerbearing member having a plurality of annular flanges, and bearing-rollers, grooved to engage said flanges on the faces of the grooves farthest from the middle of the rollers, the other faces of the grooves being, free from engagement with the flanges, the grooves being of yless diameter than'the rolling diameter of the rollers, and spacing means for the rollers.

6. A roller-bearing comprising inner and outer bearing members, each having a plurall ity of annular iianges. and bearing-rollers, grooved to' engage said flanges on the faces of the grooves farthest from the middle of ihe rollers, the other faces'of the groovesbeing free from engagement with the flanges, andthe groovesbeingof less d ameter than the rolling diameter of the rollers.

7. A roller-bearing comprising inner and outer bearing members, each bearin member 4being provided with a plurality. of annular abutment members, and bearing-rollers, having a groove near each end, of less diameter than the 4 rolling diameter, the inwardlyvfacing walls of said grooves engaging with the outer faces of .said annular abutment members, and the inner faces of said annular abutment members bein free Y from engage .ment with the rollers,-wlg1 between the rollers and a bearing member tending to rectify the rollers and the rollersbeing free tov move longitudinally inthe y bearing member to allow such rectifying contacts.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set ereby any skewing. of the rollers in the bearing causes contact 

